Curling dream comes true for Moose Jaw's Penny Barker's team

Moose Jaw’s Penny Barker never gave up on her dream of winning a Saskatchewan curling championship.

The skip of the newly crowned provincial Scotties Tournament of Hearts championship team kept that goal alive through juniors, while curling at the collegiate level with the University of Regina, and through her time in the women’s division.

That dream came true Sunday when Barker, third Deanna Doig, second Lorraine Schneider and lead Danielle Sicinski defeated North Battleford’s Robyn Silvernagle 10-7 in the final of the women’s provincial championship.

“You just keep working at it,’’ Barker said after Sunday’s win at Melville’s Horizon Credit Union Centre. “You have to take your lumps as they come and really capitalize when this comes at you. I’m so excited because of how we finished it off.’’

Barker, 31, visualized what it would be like to win a provincial championship. When she finally won one, she couldn’t hold back the tears.

Penny Barker smiles after her team won Scotties Women's Provincial final held in Melville, Saskatchewan. Michael Bell/Regina Leader-Post

Penny Barker becomes emotional after her final throw secures her team's victory during the Scotties Women's Provincial final held in Melville, Saskatchewan. Michael Bell/Regina Leader-Post

Penny Barker throws during the Scotties Women's Provincial final held in Melville, Saskatchewan. Michael Bell/Regina Leader-Post

Team Silvernagle discusses options during the Scotties Women's Provincial final held in Melville, Saskatchewan. Michael Bell/Regina Leader-Post

Robyn Silvernagle during the Scotties Women's Provincial final held in Melville, Saskatchewan. Michael Bell/Regina Leader-Post

Cristina Goertzen calls out during the Scotties Women's Provincial final held in Melville, Saskatchewan. Michael Bell/Regina Leader-Post

MELVILLE, SASK : January 29, 2017 - Robyn Silvernagle throws during the first end of the Scotties Women's Provincial final held in Melville, Saskatchewan. MICHAEL BELL / Regina Leader-Post.Michael Bell/Regina Leader-Post

Team Barker throws during the Scotties Women's Provincial final held in Melville, Saskatchewan. Michael Bell/Regina Leader-Post

Penny Barker calls out during the Scotties Women's Provincial final held in Melville, Saskatchewan. Michael Bell/Regina Leader-Post

Robyn Silvernagle of North Battleford, bottom, calls out instructions while Moose Jaw's Penny Barker looks on during Sunday's provincial Scotties Tournament of Hearts final in Melville.Michael Bell/Regina Leader-Post

Each member of Barker’s squad will compete at the national level for the first time. Sicinski has experience on the other side of the glass as an organizer of two major curling events held at Moose Jaw’s Mosaic Place.

She was the chair of the 2012 Canada Cup of Curling and co-chaired the 2015 Canadian Scotties.

“Going as a player is better,’’ Sicinski said. “It’s going to be a lot of fun and I’m excited. I’ve been part of hosting and a committee chair of other events. It’s exciting when you get to be a participant. It’s rewarding when you’re around the scene because you kind of know what’s going on.”

Barker is the first Moose-Jaw based skip to win a provincial women’s title since 1999 champion Cindy Ricci (née Street). The ties between Barker and Ricci teams extend to coach Merv Fonger. Fonger was Ricci’s coach and fills the same role with Barker.

“Cindy and I actually went to the same elementary school and came through the same curling program that way,’’ Barker said. “We both had Merv as a coach as well. She was definitely someone that I looked up to. It was her and Amber Holland that you saw doing the good things with juniors and then onto ladies. I’m happy to follow in their footsteps.’’

Sicinski’s memories of Ricci’s team include the 1996 southern women’s playdowns, held in Moose Jaw.

“I was still a junior then,’’ said Sicinski, who has curled with Barker for eight years. “I was actually (Ricci’s) sign-carrier at the southerns back in 1996. I remember that so vividly and I have a photo of it. To actually be that provincial champion and look up to Cindy Street while growing up and have those goals and achieve the things that she has is pretty exciting.’’

Barker’s shot that clinched the championship was worthy of a photo. She raced into a 4-0 lead by the third end with three consecutive steals. Silvernagle battled back and led 7-6 after the ninth end.

On Barker’s final shot, she took a deep breath, made sure she threw it well, and trusted her sweepers, Schneider and Sicinski, to do the rest. The result was a hit for four.

“You’re coming down watching and you think back to the highlights of Sandra Schmirler’s shot and some of the other teams’ shots,’’ Sicinski said. “You’re thinking in your head that you hope that’s us. When Penny came out, she was close and she had great weight. We were close and then we did it.’’

It’s quite the feat considering Barker was seeded seventh among the nine teams prior to the competition.

“Jill Shumay was ranked seventh when she won (in 2013),’’ Sicinski said. “We said “So what? We’re No. 7. She did it and we can do it.’ We’ve always had that attitude. We know what we need to do. It’s just a matter of staying focused, performing, and we did it.’’

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